COLUMBIA, Mo. – Women will learn how to test hay for moisture and analyze its nutrient content at the “Pearls of Production: Women in Agriculture” conference, Nov. 8-9 in Columbia.

University of Missouri Extension specialists Amie Schleicher and Valerie Tate will talk about forage on Saturday morning.

The conference covers beef, swine, goat and sheep production topics. There will be classroom and networking opportunities, as well as hands-on breakout sessions.

Forage management is key to farm profitability, Schleicher said. She and Tate will talk about plant identification and growth, forage fertility, weed management and cover crops.

They will show how to use pasture-monitoring tools such as grazing sticks, rising plate meters and feed readers. Participants will learn how to take soil samples and interpret the results.

The MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension, and MU Extension host the annual event.

Sign-in on Nov. 8 starts at 8:30 a.m. at the MU Bradford Research Center, east of Columbia.

On the second day, breakout sessions will take place at MU farms in Boone County. The beef session is at the MU Beef Farm. Pork will be in the Swine Teaching Barn at MU South Farm. Small ruminants and forage sessions are at Bradford.

Bradford Research Center is at 4968 Rangeline Road. From Columbia, go east 6.5 miles on Broadway/Highway WW to Rangeline Road. Signs at the intersection point south 2 miles.

The $100 registration fee includes meals featuring new beef and pork products. Breaks and educational texts are also included.

Register through the MU Conference Office at muconf.missouri.edu or by calling toll-free to 877-682-6663.